Box



Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOX

Louis Keller, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 20, 1940, Serial No. 336,119

claims. (o1. 229-27) s The present invention relates generally to cardboard boxes. More particularly the invention relates to that typel of cardboard box which is designed primarily for use in merchandising pieces of confectionery together with a prize article, comprises a dat rectangular front, a fiat rectangular back and a pair of opposed flat rectangular sides, embodies at the upper end there* of a releasable closure in the form of a pair of opposed inwardly extending inner flaps on the upper margins of thesides and an outer flap on the upper margin of the back, and has a cross partition for dividing the interior thereof into an upper compartment for the pieces of confectionery and a lower compartment for the prize article.

One object of the invention is to provide a cardboard box of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain 4advantages over, previously designed boxes of the `saine general character by reason of the fact that the cross partition is of special and novel design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box of the aforementioned type and character in which the partition for dividing the box interior into an upper and a lower compartment is in the form of a U-shaped trough and embodies a pair of full width side pieces, one of which has the outer margin thereof connected by a hinge-like joint to the upper margin of the box front and the other of which is free and embodies at the outer margin thereof a full Width tab which is adapted when the upper end of the box 4is closed to overlie the inwardly extending inner flaps and coact therewith to prevent inward displacement of the partition, and is further adapted when the flaps are in their open position to serve as a handle whereby the partition may be withdrawn from the box in order to discharge the pieces of confectionery in the upper compartment and at the same time provide access to the prize article in the lower compartment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cardboard box of the type under consideration which is generally of new and improved construction and may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost. Other objectsof the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present box will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the oonclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a perspective showing a box embodying the invention with the aps at the upper end thereof in their open position and the partition in its extended position, i. e., the position which it assumes after being pulled out of the upper end of the box by grasping and raising the handle forming tab;

Figure 2 is a, fragmentary perspective showing the improved box after the partition has been manipulated into its operative position in the upper end of the box but before folding of the flaps into their closed position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective showing the box after the inner flaps on the upper margins of the box sides and the tap 0n the outer margin of the free side piece of the partition have been folded into place preparatory to closing of the upper end of the box;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective showing the box after complete closing thereof by fo1d` ing into place the outer ap on the upper margin of the box back; and

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view illustrating the manner in which the tab on the outer margin of the free side piece of the partition coacts with the inner flaps to prevent displacement of the partition While the upper end of the box is closed.

The box which is shown in the drawing constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is designed primarily for use in merchandising pieces P of confectionery together with a prize article A and is preferably formed from a single or onefpiece blank of cardboard. As its parts the box comprises a dat rectangular front 6, a flat rectangular back l, a pair of opposed flat rectangular sides 8, a pair of end closures 9 and I0, and a cross partition Il. The sides 8 are disposed in parallel relation and serve to cross connect and space apart the front and back of the box. are joined to the side margins of the front 6 and the rear margins of the sides are joined to the side margins of the back. The sides 3 are posi- `tioned at right angles to the front and back with the result that the box interior is rectangular in cross section.

The closure 9 is at the upper end of the box and lis of the releasable type or variety. It consists of a pair of inner flaps I2 and an outer flap I3 and serves when in its operative or closed The front margins 0f the sides.

. to the crosspiece by a hinge-like joint 23.

position to seal the upper end of the box. The inner flaps I2 are attached to the upper margins of the box sides 8 by hinge-like joints I4. They are the same in width as the box sides and are adapted to extend inwards when the closure 9 is in its operative position. The iiap I3 is attached or Yjoined to the upper margin of the back 1 of the box by a hinge-like joint I5 and corresponds in width to the box back. It is adapted when the closure 9 is in its operative or closed positionl to overlie the inner flaps I2 and is provided at the outer margin thereof with a tab` I5. The latter is hinged to the flap I3 and is adapted in connection with closing of such flap to be inserted between the front margins of the ilapsw I2 and the upper margin of the box iront 6, as shown in Figure 4. When the tab I6 is in place it serves releasably to hold or retain the flap I3v in its closed position. Opening of the closure 9 is effected by first swinging upwards and outwards the flap I3 and then swinging upwards and outwards the inner iiaps I2. The closure IE) serves as a seal for the lower end of the box and may be of any suitable or -desired design. For example, it may be a permanent closure or it may be of the releasable variety like the closure 9'for the upper end of the box.

The partition II is adapted to divide the interior of the box into an upper compartment I7 Yfor the pieces P of confectionery, and a lower compartment i8 for thev prize article A. It is formed as an extension of, and integrally with, the front 6 and is in the form of a U-shaped trough. As its parts the partition II consists of a crosspiece I9, a pair of side pieces 29 and 2|, and a tab 22. The crosspiece I9 is adapted when the partition is in place to extend transversely across the box interior (see Figures 2 and 5). It serves as the bottom of the upper compartment I 'I and is the same in depth as the sides 8 are wide and is the same in length as the front 6 and back 'I are wide. The side piece 20 is the same in length as the crosspiece II and is joined A hinge-like joint 24 extends between and serves to connect the upper margin of the front 6 and th'e outer margin of the partition side piece 29. When the partition is in its operative position of the side piece fits iiatly against the upper portion of the inner face of the box front 6, as shown in Figure 5. The side piece 2I of the partition is joined or attached to the crosspiece I9 by a hinge-like joint 25 and is the same in length as the crosspiece. It embodies at the upper margin thereof the tab 22, and when the r partition is in its operative position, fits against the upper portion of the inner face of the box back 'I. The tab 22 is a full length tab and is joined to the outer or free margin o f the side piece 2I by a hinge-like joint 26. It is adapted when the upper end closure 9 is in its operative or closed position to overlie the inner -aps I2, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, and serves to prevent inward displacement of the partition. The outer iiap I3 when in its` closed position operates to hold the tab 22 in overlapped relation with the inner flaps I2. When the flaps I2 and I3 constituting the upper end closure 9, are in their open position the tab 22 on the side piece 2I ofV the partition serves as a handle and when grasped and raised upwards operates to withdraw the partition II from the container and effect an automatic discharge of the pieces P of confectionery as Well as access to the lower compartment I8 in which the .prize article A isdisposed.

When the box is in a closed condition and it is desired to remove one or more of the confectionery pieces P the flap I3 is first swung upwards and outwards. Thereafter the tab 22 is swung upwards an-d outwards into lapped relation with the inner margin or proximal part of the iiap I3, and the inner flaps I2 are swung upwards and outwards. These operations result in opening of the upper end of the box and serve to expose the interior of the upper compartment II. If it is desired to remove all of the confectionery pieces P and at the same time provide access to the lower compartment IB the tab 22 is grasped and raised upwards. This operates to 'withdraw the partition II from the box and results in a complete automatic discharge of the pieces P. When the partition is exteriorly disposed with respect to the box the lower compartment I8 is accessible from above and it is possible to remove the article A.

The herein described box can be manufactured at a low cost because of the fact that it is made from a one-piece cardboard blank. It is simple in design and effectively and efciently serves its intended purpose. When the upper end closure 9 is in its closed position the tab 22 is disposed or located between the inner flaps I 2 and the outer flap I3 `and hence holds the partition I I in its operative position.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a box formed of cardboard and comprising a front member, a back member and a pair of opposed sides extending between and connecting the front and back members and defining with the latter a storage space, a pair of opposed flaps hinged to the upper margins of the sides respectively and' adapted to extend inwards at substantially r right angles to said sides and serve as closure means for the upper end of the box, a troughlike partition adapted when in place in the space to divide the latter into separate upper and lower compartments and embodying a side piece connected by a hinge-like joint to the upper margin ofone of the members and a second side piece disposed normally in opposed relation with, and connected by a crosspiece to, the first mentioned side piece and provided at its outer margin with a hinged element substantiallyV equal in width to the distance between the two box sides and adapted when the flaps are in their inwardly extending position to overlie and rest upon said iiaps and coact therewith to hold the partition against inward displacement, and further adapted in connection with opening of said upper end of the box to form a handle whereby the partition may be removed from the space in order to discharge any articles in the upper compartment and provide access to the lower compartment, and releasable means for holding the hinged element in place on said flaps when the partition is in place and the upper end of the box is closed by the iiaps.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a box comprising a front member, a back member, and a. pair of opposed sides extending between and connecting the two members and defining with the latter a storage space, a releasable upper end closure for the space consisting of a pair of inner flaps on the upper margins of the sides and an outer ilap hinged to the upper margin of one of the members and adapted when the closure is in its operative position to lap the inner flaps and hold them in an inwardly extending position, and a trough-like partition adapted when in place in the space to divide the latter into separate upper and lower compartments and including a side piece connected by a hinge-like joint to the upper margin of one of the members and a second side piece disposed in opposed relation with and, connected to, the first mentioned side piece and provided at its outer margin with a hinged tab substantially equal in width to the distance between the two box sides and adapted when the upper end closure is in its operative position to t between the outer and inner ilaps and hold the partition in place and when the outer flap is in its open position to form a handle whereby the partition may be removed from the space in order to discharge any articles in the upper compartment and provide access to the lower compartment.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a box comprising a iront member, a back member and a pair of opposed sides extending between and cross connecting the front and back members and deiining with the latter a storage space, a releasable upper end closure for the space embodying a pair of inner flaps on the upper margins of the sides and an outer iiap hinged to the upper margin of one of the members and adapted when the closure is in its operative position to overlie the inner flaps and hold them in an inwardly extending posi-tion, and a trough-like partition consisting of an imperforate crosspiece adapted when the partition is in place to extend across the space and divide the latter into separate upper and lower compartments, a side piece extending between, and connected by hinge-like joints to, one of the side margins of the crosspiece and the upper margin of one of the members, and a second side piece connected by a hinge-like joint to the other side margin of the crosspiece and provided at its outer margin with a hinged tab substantially equal in width to the distance between the two box sides and adapted when the upper end closure is in said operative position to t between the outer and inner flaps and hold the partition in place and when the outer iiap is in its open position to form a handle whereby the partition may be removed from the space in order to discharge any articles in the upper compartment and provide access to the lower compartment.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a box formed from a one-piece cardboard blank and comprising a front member, a back member, and a pair of opposed sides extending between and cross connecting the front and back members and defining with the latter a storage space, a releasable upper end closure for the space embodying a pair of inner flap-s on the upper margins 0f the sides and an outer flap hinged to the upper margin of one of the members and adapted when the closure is in its operative position to overlie the inner flaps and hold them in an inwardly extending position, and a trough-like partition consisting of an imperforate crosspiece adapted when the partition is in place in the space to extend across the llatter and divide the space into separate upper and lower compartments, a side piece extending between, and connected by hinge-like joints to, one of the side margins of the crosspiece and the upper margin of the other member, and a second side piece connected by a hinge-like joint to the other side margin of the crosspiece and provided at its outer margin with a full width hinged tab adapted when the upper end closure is in Aits said operative position to iit between the outer and inner flaps and hold the partition in place and when the outer flap is in its open position to form a handle whereby the partition may be removed from the space in order to discharge any articles in the upper compartment and provide access to the lower compartment.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a box comprising a front member, a back member and a pair of opposed sides extending between and connecting the front and back members and delining with the latter a storage space, a releasable upper end closure for the space including a pair of opposed aps hinged to the upper margins of the sides, respectively, and adapted when the closure is in its operative position to extend inwards at substantially right angles to said sides, and a trough-like partition having integral panels when in place in the space to divide the latter into separate upper and lower compartments and embodying a side panel connected by a hinge-like joint to the upper margin of one of the members and a second side panel disposed in opposed relation with and connected to the first mentioned panel by means including a bottom panel, said second side panel being provided at its outer margin with a hinged tab substantially equal in width to the distance between the two box sides and adapted when the closure is in its operative position to overlie and rest upon said flaps and coact therewith to hold the partition against displacement and further adapted in connection with opening of said upper end clof sure to form a handle whereby the partition may be removed from the space in order to discharge any articles in the upper compartment and provide access to the lower compartment.

LOUIS KELLER. 

